Since we first heard about it, we’ve been less than patiently waiting for Mark Neale’s next opus Charge, a movie about the first zero-emissions motorcycle race, which was held during the 2009 Isle of Man TT. Now we get word from the movie’s Facebook page that Charge will be available in about a week’s time, and we’re downright giddy about it.

Check the DVD library of any die hard MotoGP fan, and you’ll find Neale’s Faster, an iconic movie about MotoGP’s shift from two-stroke to four-stroke motors — we imagine Charge will have this same point of reference appeal to electric motorcycle enthusiasts, and eventually motorcyclists as a whole.

We got an email from Neale the other day, saying that an advanced copy of Charge would be headed to our mailbox. With promises of death by ex-Navy SEAL (no, seriously) if it should land into the wrong hands, Asphalt & Rubber will be hosting the world premiere of Charge here in the San Francisco/Bay Area (location pending). Until then, check the video after the jump.

Shame about the attitudes shown by the ” ‘ard men, ‘ard motorcycles ” clowns, but you’ll get that kind of prat anywhere.

Keith

heh, electric is only viable on the track with current (sorry) tech. Even then a racer will be bringing upwards dozen battery packs for a race weekend. meh…wont be practical for 10-20 years on the street. I see a rise in generators in the paddock that will use MORE gas/diesel and kick out more emissions than IC powered race bikes.

Victor Pritzker

I love it. “Battery powered scrap!” I accept that as a challenge. Not practical for street for 20 years… another challenge. And if it does take another 20 so what.

And, by the way. A battery powered vehicle, even one powered by electricity that comes from totally coal fired electricity is still cleaner in total than a gas powered unit. But it is not the fault of electrical vehicle makers that there is still crap electrical production when there are so many other resources available to make electricity from. We do our part, if you are actually concerned, do yours.

And if they are not good for anything but the track… neither are other GP bikes. But like them, they add to the technology and progress of the breed. This year some of these scrape heaps will go over 2oo mph and provide some very exciting racing and technological excitement.

So hold hold on to your Luddite opinions if you want, and let the rest of us seek adventure in new, clean, and intellectually exciting technology.

Kranky

What I like about these new bikes is that eventually they are actually going to be more simple mechanically and electronically than the ICE bikes are now, with all the computer controlled fuel management and ignition maps.

Victor Pritzker

Kranky,

They sure have less parts, hundreds instead of thousands, and only a very few moving parts. But they are getting very, very sophisticated. There is as much chemistry as there is electronics. Wonderful things are being done with with electric motors, and controllers, and other specialized parts, and not surprisingly, software. Still, they are motorcycles, and require chassis and suspension engineering of the highest order.
We all love ICE, and that stuff is not going away soon, this new propulsion system gives us a chance to learn something new. Personally, I like that.
Just wait until you get a chance to ride one of the better ones, it’s a thrill. And, they are not really silent like some people say, not loud and rumbly, in the way an ICE bike is, but in full scream they shriek like a banshee. There should be some interesting stuff at Infinion next week… there are some very fast bikes out there from Lightning, Moto Czysz, Swigs, Agni, and a host of others. In my experience, the world of motorcycling has been one of continuing innovation and evolution. I can’t wait to see the latest.

Wish I could be there at the screening to enjoy this movie. I’ve been anticipating its release as well, and hope to score a DVD soon. Last year, the first North American TTXGP series began at Infineon and I feel like I witnessed history. If any of you have a chance to go this year, take it. If the paddock is as open and inviting as it was last year, you’re in for a treat.